Summary

Bernie Sanders criticizes the Democratic Party for neglecting the working class, leading to their recent election losses.

He highlights issues like economic inequality, job displacement, healthcare costs, and foreign policy as key concerns for the American people.

Sanders questions whether the Democratic leadership will address these issues or remain beholden to big money interests.

“It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them,” Sanders said.

“First, it was the white working class, and now it is Latino and Black workers as well. While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change. And they’re right.”

“Will the big money interests and well-paid consultants who control the Democratic Party learn any real lessons from this disastrous campaign?” Sanders asked.

“Will they understand the pain and political alienation that tens of millions of Americans are experiencing? Do they have any ideas as to how we can take on the increasingly powerful Oligarchy which has so much economic and political power? Probably not.”

Israeli ground forces are getting closer to “the complete evacuation” of northern Gaza and residents will not be allowed to return home, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has said, in what appears to be the first official acknowledgment from Israel it is systematically removing Palestinians from the area.

In a media briefing on Tuesday night, the IDF Brig Gen Itzik Cohen told Israeli reporters that since troops had been forced to enter some areas twice, such as Jabaliya camp, “there is no intention of allowing the residents of the northern Gaza Strip to return to their homes”.

International humanitarian law experts have said that such actions would amount to the war crimes of forcible transfer and the use of food as a weapon.

Summary

Following Donald Trump’s election victory, supporters charged in the January 6 Capitol attack are requesting delays in their cases, hoping for pardons after his inauguration.

Attorneys for Christopher Carnell, 21, a nonviolent participant, cited Trump’s campaign promises to pardon January 6 defendants. D.C. District Judge Beryl Howell denied Carnell’s request for a delay.

Trump’s clemency promises and anticipated halting of the January 6 investigation by the Justice Department have raised hopes among defendants for relief under the new administration.

Over 1,500 individuals have been charged in connection with the Capitol assault, with many facing violent assault charges.

Summary

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that starting in 2027, students eligible for free or reduced-price school meals will no longer face “processing fees” when paying for school lunches.

Currently, cashless payment systems allow processing companies to charge families fees as high as $3.25 per transaction, disproportionately affecting low-income families.

This policy change aims to reduce costs for families under 185% of the federal poverty line.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized the need for universal free school meals to ensure equitable access to nutrition for all students.

Full text of statement:

"It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them. First, it was the white working class, and now it is Latino and Black workers as well. While the Democratic leadership defend the status quo, the American people are angry and want change. And they're right.

Today, while the very rich are doing phenomenally well, 60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck and we have more income and wealth inequality than ever before. Unbelievably, real, inflation-accounted-for weekly wages for the average American worker are actually lower now than they were 50 years ago.

Today, despite an explosion in technology and worker productivity, many young people will have a worse standard of living than their parents. And many of them worry that Artificial Intelligence and robotics will make a bad situation even worse.

Today, despite spending far more per capita than other countries, we remain the only wealthy nation not to guarantee health care to all as a human right and we pay, by far, the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs. We, alone among major countries, cannot even guarantee paid family and medical leave.

Today, despite strong opposition from a majority or Americans, we continue to spend billions funding the extremist Netanyahu government's all out war against the Palestinian people which has led to the horrific humanitarian disaster of mass malnutrition and the starvation of thousands of children.

While the big money interests and well paid consultants who control the Democratic Party learn any real lessons from this disastrous campaign? Will they understand the pain and political alienation that tens of millions of Americans are experiencing? Do they have any ideas as to how we can take on the increasingly powerful Oligarchy which has so much political power? Probably not.

In the coming weeks and months those of us concerned about grassroots democracy and economic justice need to have some very serious political discussions.

Stay tuned."

For any range of topics, lighthearted to serious, hobbies and games to helping and engaging with community matters. Regarding reach, I mean what ways may be used alongside word of mouth, as I honestly don't hear people talk about groups they're in (besides sports/bands) all that much.

Like, why do the wealthy even hang around this place anyway? They could go anywhere. Sure, turn it into a shit hole so bad you don't even want to be there. Go ahead.

I thought fascism was a Republican thing 🤯

Summary

Hurricane Rafael caused a power outage in Cuba, weeks after a nationwide blackout. The Category 3 storm made landfall in Artemisa province with winds near 115 mph, causing damage to power installations and leaving millions without power.

I'm not saying that it's likely or that it would have any effects.

Democrats are looking on nervously as their last-ditch goal of recapturing the House in an otherwise brutal election shows signs of fizzling.